“For all the obstacles we see before us, gratitude and appreciation should prevail over concerns and complaints.”— Pope Francis

Lenten Programs

Lenten Programs

St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Piscataway, will offer Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent at 7 p.m. For information, call (732) 885-5313.

St. Ann Parish, Raritan, will hold Lenten Supper in the school cafeteria at 5 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent. For information, call (908) 725-1008 or visit www.nboratory.org.

Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, will offer Soup and Stations every Friday during Lent from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross will begin at 7 p.m. A fish fry will be held on April 5, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. For information, call (908) 735-7319.

St. Joseph Parish, Carteret, will offer Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent. Mass will follow at 7 p.m. For information, call (732) 541-8946, ext. 111.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, will hold the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Mondays, March 11, 18 and April 1, 8 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the church. For details, call (908) 725-0552.

Corpus Christi Parish, South River, will hold confessions every Wednesday during Lent following the 5 p.m. Mass and Fridays, 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Confessions will also be available by private appointment. Eucharistic Holy Hour will be offered following the 5 p.m. Mass on Wednesdays and on the First Friday on the month. For further information, call the parish office, (732) 254-1800.

March 9,10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, Watchung, will offer a Lenten Day of Recollection entitled “To Bear the Beams of Love.” Begin your Lenten journey and allow God to speak to you and get to know yourself as Beloved. The cost is $45-$55 as you are able to pay. Lunch is included. To register, visit www.msmhope.org.

March 11-14, 7 to 9 p.m. – Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, will present a Lenten Mission in the church. The presenters will be the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. A penance service will be held on March 12 with several priests on hand to hear confessions. A Recollection about Our Lady of Guadalupe will be presented on March 14. For information, call (908) 735-7319.

Wednesdays, March 13-April 10, 9:30 to 11 a.m. – Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, Watchung, is offering a Lenten journey for women entitled, “Through the Eyes of Women.” The program is based on the book “Walk in Her Sandals” by Kelly Wahlquist. The final session will be held on May 11. The cost is $120-$180 as you are able to pay. The book is available for purchase prior to the first session. For questions or to register, call (908) 753-2091 or visit www.msmhope.org.

March 13, 9:30 to 11 a.m. – Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, Watchung, will present “Through the Eyes of Women: A Lenten Journey” a six-week women’s program based on the book “Walk in Her Sandals.” The program will be a prayerful and creative way to enter into Lent, Easter and Pentecost. The cost is $120-$180 as you are able to pay. The book is available for purchase. To register, call (908) 753-2091 or visit www.msmhope.org.

Wednesdays, March 13-April April 10,7 to 9 p.m. – St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin, will hold “Real Suffering – Finding Hop and Healing in the Trials of Life,” The topics covered will include why we suffer in life, is there a purpose and meaning to in our trials, physical pain, emotional loss and more. To register, call Kathy Beglan, (732) 283-2300 or email kbeglan@stcecelia.comby March 10.

Wednesdays, March 13-April April 10,7:30 p.m. – The Oratory of St. Philip Neri, St. Ann Parish, Raritan, will present a Lenten series entitled, “Mercy: Gift and Vocation.” Each week will cover a different topic. For details, visit, www.nboratory.orgor call (908) 725-1008.

March 15 and April 12, 8 to 9:30 p.m. – Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, invites all to a Festival of Praise in the church. For information, call (908) 735-7319.

Mondays, March 18-April 8,7 p.m. – St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park, will present Lenten Eucharistic Adoration in the church. Each week a different speaker will cover a different topic. For information, visit www.staugustinenj.orgor call (732) 297-3000.

March 22 and 29, noon and 7 p.m. – St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Hillsborough, will offer a Lenten Speaker Series. The program will begin with a service in the church then will be followed by a soup meal and the presentation in the parish center. Each week a different speaker will present a topic. For information, call (908) 725-0615.

March 23,5 p.m., March 24, 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and March 25, 6:30 p.m.– St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville, will hold a Lenten Mission focused on Divine Mercy at all weekend Masses. Adoration will be held on March 24, 3 p.m. followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet. “Sacrament of Reconciliation – the way to peace of heart” will be presented on March 25, 6:30 p.m. Additional priests will be on hand to hear confessions. The presenters of the mission will be Sister Donata and Sister Veritas from the congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Washington D.C. For information, call (609) 397-3350 or visit www.parishofsaintjohn.org.

March 23-27 – Corpus Christi Parish, South River, will hold a Parish Mission. For further information, call the parish office, (732) 254-1800.

March 24-March 26 – St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, will present a parish mission and 40 Hours Devotion starting at 7:30 p.m. on March 24 and ending on March 26 with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. For details, call (908) 725-0552.

March 24–March 26 – St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick, will present 40 Hours Devotion in the church. The opening of the 40 Hours will begin with Mass on March 24 at 6 p.m. Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Solemn Vespers of Our Lady and Catechists will be held on March 25. Mass will follow at 6:30 p.m. Solemn Vespers and closing will be held on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. To sign up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration visit www.stpeternewbrunswick.org.

March 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – St. James Parish, Basking Ridge, will hold a Lenten Soup Supper in the chapel auditorium. A simple meal of soup and bread will be served to identify with the less fortunate this Lenten season. Monetary donations will be collected to benefit a charity in Newark. For information and to volunteer to donate soup or bread, email Christine Peredo, cperedo@optonline.net or call (908) 803-6846.

March 29, 9 a.m. through March 30, 9 a.m. – St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, will present 24 Hours for the Lord “With You is Forgiveness.” Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be included. On March 29 confessions will be held at 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight. On March 30 confessions will be held at 6 to 8 a.m. For details, call (908) 725-0552.

March 30, 10:30 a.m. – Parish of the Visitation, St. Mary of Mount Virgin worship site, will hold a Lenten talk with confessions. Confessions will be held from 11 a.m. to noon. For information, call (732) 545-5090.

March 31, 2 p.m., April 1 and2,7 p.m. – Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station, will hold a Lenten Retreat entitled, “Everyday Stewardship in Everyday Language for Everyday People” presented by Tracy Earl Welliver. Tracy will challenge you to be mindful, prayerful, grateful, gracious, committed and accountable. Ultimately leading to an extraordinary life. For information, call (908) 534-2319 or visit www.ollwhs.org.

April 7, 7 p.m. – Corpus Christi Parish, South River, will hold a Penance Service in the church. Several priests will be on hand to hear confessions. For information, call the parish office, (732) 254-1800.

April 14, 7 p.m. – St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, will hold the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the church. Additional priests will be available to hear confessions. For information, call (908) 725-0552.

April 16,7 p.m. – St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Piscataway, will hold a Parish Reconciliation Service in the church. For information, call (732) 885-5313.

Outside the Diocese

March 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Loyola Jesuit Center, Morristown, will present Loyola Day of Prayer as we begin the Lenten season. The day will include reconciliation, Mass, distribution of ashes, breakfast and lunch. The cost is $40. To register, visitwww.loyola.org.

March 24, 2 to 7 p.m. – Loyola Jesuit Center, Morristown, will present Loyola Day of Prayer: Discernment. Learn practical ways to discover what God is calling us to do in the big and small decisions of our lives. The day will include Mass and dinner. The cost is $40. To register, visit www.loyola.org

Lenten Dinners

March 15, 5 to 8 p.m. – Perth Amboy Catholic School and St. John Paull II Parish, Perth Amboy, will sponsor a Fish Fry in the Perth Amboy Catholic School cafeteria. The menu includes fish, pierogis, salad, two sides, dessert, coffee and tea. Wine and Sangria will be available for purchase. Take-out is available at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children five to ten years old. To purchase tickets, call (732) 826-1395 by March 12.

March 29, 5 to 8 p.m. – Perth Amboy Catholic School and St. John Paull II Parish, Perth Amboy, will sponsor a Fish Fry in the Perth Amboy Catholic School cafeteria. The menu includes fish, pierogis, salad, two sides, dessert, coffee and tea. Soda and water is $1 each. Wine and Sangria will be available for purchase. Take-out is available at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children five to ten years old. To purchase tickets, call (732) 826-1395 by March 26.

April 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Our Lady of Lourdes Rosary Altar Society and the Knights of Columbus, Whitehouse Station, are sponsoring a Lenten Pierogi Dinner in Community Hall. The menu will include home-style pierogis, fresh vegetables, fruit and beverages. The cost is $15 for adults and $9 for children under 12 years old. Takeout orders are available. Proceeds will benefit the Rosary Altar Society Scholarship Fund. For information, email Gerry Boylan, grandknight.6930@gmail.com.

St. John the Evangelist Council 2544, Knights of Columbus, Dunellen, will hold Lenten Fish Fry Dinners every Friday through Good Friday in the council home on Grove St. Dunellen. The dinner will be served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The menu will include fish, mac and cheese, shrimp, clams, coffee and dessert.

St. Mary Ostrabrama Parish, South River, will hold Lenten Fish Dinners Fridays during Lent beginning March 15 at 7 p.m. Fish and chips dinner are $12 for adults and $5 for children. Take-out orders are available beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets will be sold in the parish office or at the door.

Our Lady of Peace Council 9199, Knights of Columbus, Fords, is sponsoring all you can eat Lenten Linguini Dinners every Friday in Lent from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the cafeteria below the church. The menu includes linguini, a choice of sauce, salad, bread, coffee and dessert. Pizza will be available. The cost is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, and $5 for children 12 and under. Children under five are free. A family rate of $20 is available for eat-in only. Take-out is available. Tickets will be sold at the door. For information, call Tony, (732) 233-4473.